Kiweewa of Buganda

Mutebi Nnyonyintono Kiweewa was the 32nd Kabaka of the Kingdom of Buganda from 2 August 1888 until 21 October 1888.

Claim to the throne

He was born at Nakatema prior to 1856, the eldest son of Kabaka Mukaabya Walugembe Mutesa I Kayiira, Kabaka of Buganda, who reigned between 1856 and 1884. His mother was Kiribakka of the Mamba clan. He ascended to the throne following the defeat of his younger brother, Kabaka Mwanga II by the combined Christian, Muslim and rebel Baganda forces. The defeat of Mwanga II occurred on 2 August 1888. Kiweewa was crowned on 11 September 1888. He maintained his capital at Mengo Hill.

Married life He is recorded to have married twenty (20) wives: Lady Bukirwa Nassaza Lady Butema Lady Kajja Lady Lozaliya Lady Luleba, Omusenero Lady Namubiru Lady Balirwa Lady Namuli, Omufumbiro Naabakyaala Namusoke, Kaddulubaale Lady Nambajjwe Lady Nambi I Lady Nambi II Lady Nambi III Lady Tebalyayeebwa, Omulindamazzi Lady Teyansigira Lady Lwandeeta Naabakyaala Zandaba, the Namasole, previously the Kaddulubaale Naabakyaala Mbagumidde, the Kabejja Lady Bwangu Lady Sabaddu

Issue

He fathered 23 children, 21 sons and two daughters:

Prince Kiweewa Ssimbwa, whose mother was Lady Butema Prince (Omulangira) Walulyo I, whose mother was Lady Butema Prince (Omulangira) Kibuuka, whose mother was Lady Kajja Prince (Omulangira) Nabadda, whose mother was Lady Lozaliya Prince (Omulangira) Muyinda, whose mother was Lady Luleba, Omusenero Prince (Omulangira) Agustin [Gusito] Tebandeke, whose mother was Lady Namubiru. He was educated at Namilyango College. Prince (Omulangira) Lulaba, whose mother was Lady Namuli Prince (Omulangira) Kagunya, whose mother was Lady Namuli Prince (Omulangira) Lukongwa, the Ssaabalangira (Chief Prince), whose mother was Lady Namusoke Prince (Omulangira) Kiwanuka, whose mother was Lady Namusoke Prince (Omulangira) Walulyo II, whose mother was Lady Namusoke Prince (Omulangira) Kalubagwiire, whose mother was Lady Nambajjwe Prince (Omulangira) Sekamaanya, whose mother was Lady Nambi I Prince (Omulangira) Namulinzi I, whose mother was Lady Nambi II Prince (Omulangira) Mwanga, whose mother was Lady Nambi III Prince (Omulangira) Chwa, whose mother was Tebalyayeebwa Prince (Omulangira) Ngenza, whose mother was Tebalyayeebwa Prince (Omulangira) Namulinzi II, whose mother was Teyansigira Prince (Omulangira) Namika, whose mother was Lady Lwandeeta Prince (Omulangira) Musisi, whose mother was Lwandeeta Prince (Omulangira) Nasuswa, whose mother was Lady Zandaba Princess (Omumbejja) Hana Mazzi, whose mother was Balirwa Princess (Omumbejja) Agaati Kagere, whose mother Tebalyayeebwa

His reign

Kabaka Kiweewa Nnyonyintono's rein is the shortest in the recorded history of Buganda. He was the Kabaka-in-waiting for around six weeks; after he was crowned, he lasted a mere forty days on the throne. His reign was characterized by conflict and rebellion among the members of the royal court and intrigue and plotting among the Arabic Muslim and European Christian forces that supported the warring factions.

Some of the great officers of state during his reign included;

NamePositionTranslationHonorat Nyonyintono Katikiro Chief MinisterAli Bukulu Kimbugwe Second MinisterHonorat Nyonyintono Sekibobo Governor of KyaggweApollo Kaggwa Mukwenda Governor of SingoMuguluma Pokino Governor of BudduKapalaga Kaggo Governor of KyadondoGaburieli Kintu Kangao Governor of Bulemezi Luganga Omujasi Head of Ekitongole EkijasiSamuel Mukasa Omuwanika Head of Ekitongole Ggwanika

Kiweewa's reforms included lifting the ban on Arab trade with Bunyoro, as well as reducing the payment his predecessors had imposed on export and import of merchandise. he undertook to repay the ivory debt Mwanga owed the Arab traders. In a meeting he held with the European missionaries and the Muslims, Kiweewa promised to build a mosque for the Muslims. However, his announcement that none of his subjects should be interfered with on the grounds of his religion was not heeded, and the Muslim party upon gaining power pressed for his circumcision and conversion to their faith.

The final days He was deposed by the Muslim forces of his brother Kabaka Kalema, who reigned from 21 October 1888 until 5 October 1889. He was captured and thrown in jail. He was killed in prison by his Muslim captors in July 1889. He was buried at Masanafu, Kyaddondo.

Quotes "Like Vitellius, eight hundred years before, he had never wished to rule, and like Vitellius also, when he saw that they were resolved to kill him, he appealled in vain to his slayers not to put to death the man once they had made a ruler over them." Sir John M. Gray, "The Year of the Three Kings of Buganda", 1950

"Kiweewa himself was a tall, thin man with a very dark skin which was heavily poxed. He was fairly advanced in age, completely devoid of political ambition and without any quality of leadership. The only good thing about him was that he was kind-hearted but conservative." MSM Kiwanuka, "Kabaka Mwanga and his Political Parties", 1969

"When he ascended the throne Kiweewa was of the view that he would be the supreme authority in the land of Buganda just as his predecessors had been. But soon Kiweewa discovered that he was no more than a puppet in the hands of his officers and ministers." A. Mutyaba, The Muslim Factor in Uganda, 1840-1900